Frame-joint and method of soldering the same.



APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1909.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Wl TNESSE S LoUrs B. PRAHAR, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

FRAME-JOINT AND METHOD OF SOLDER-ING THE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 14, 1909.

Application filed August 11, 1909. serial No. 512,341.,

full, clear, and exact description. .19

This invention relates to certain improvements 1n frame jomts, and moreparticularly to a new method of securing together the abutting ends ofmetal channels going to make up the frame.

Metal channel members are commonly employed in making the joints offrames of hand-bags and in making small picture frames, and at thecorners it is common to "secure` together the abutting ends of thechannel members by hard solder. During the soldering the channels becomehighly heated and often warp to such an extent that a separate operationis necessary to again straighten them. Furthermore, the channels becomediscolored from the heat and from the flux, so as to necessitate thereburnishing of the parts. The space within the channel is too narrowfor the insertion of a soldering iron, so if an iron be employed it mustbe to the exterior.

In forming a joint in accordance with my invention, I insert achannel-shaped member within thev two channels attheir abutting ends,said channel member being of such form that it is spaced from the sidesof the channels adj acentthe web of the latter but resiliently contactswith the sides adjacent their free edges. This `inner channel memberholds the sides of thechannels in proper alinement, and, at the sametime, leaves a capillary space for the solder. Soft solder is droppedinto the inner channel member and passes out of the latter at the endslor through suitable apertures into the channels, and is then drawnupwardlyby capillary attraction between the sides of the channels andthe sides ofthe inner channel member, so as to effectively secure thechan- I' nel member to both of the channels and to lill the narrow spacebetween the ends of the abutting sides of the channels. No solderingiron need be employed the channels are not heated, so as to warp ordiscolor them, and no surplus solder or fiuxremains irgpon the outside.The space between the'sr'des of the channels is not obstructed to anyapabutting ends of channels.

preciable extent to prevent the insertion of any member or device whichit is desired to hold by the completed frame.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specilicat-ion, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts "in all the figures, and in which y Figure l is aperspective View of a channel member adapted to be inserted inV themaking of a joint in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a corner of a frame formed of channelsand prior tosoldering; Fig. 3 is a section through-the corner after the insertion ofthe channel member and prior to soldering; Figs. 4 and 5 are transversesections :on the lines 4 4 and 5-5, respectively,'of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is aview similar to Fig. 5 but after the soldering is completed, and Fig.k 7is a section similar to Fig. 3, but showing a different form of innerchannel member.

My invention may be utilized in thev manufacture of joints for bag jaws,picturev frames, or articles of any other character which involve thesecuring together of the The channels secured together may be inalinement with each other or may intersect at right angles or at anyother desired angles. In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated ajoint and the parts going to make up the same, as-used for the corner ofan ornamental metal frame. In` the sides of a metal channel there arecut Aright angular notches, the apex of each notch `being disposedadjacent the edge of the web of the channel, and the web of the channelis then bent to bring the two parts at right angles to each other.

This leaves the web of one channel integral with the web of the other,but it is evi ent that this is not essential to my invention, as theinvention is equally applicable to securing together of two entirelyseparate and distinct pieces.

To facilitate the description of the invention, I will refer to theframe as being fo'rmed of two channels having abutting ends. -In Fig. 2,I have. illustrated two channels 10 and 11, eachhaving its end cut at,an angle of forty-live degrees, and the two channels placed with theirends abutting and ready to be soldered. Within the two channels at theirabutting ends, I insert `an inner channel member 12, having two sides 13and 14 connectedtogcther by a. web

member.

15. The inner members may be of thin tin or any other suitable metal,and the channel is of a'less width than the distance between ythe sidesof the channels. The outer or free edges of the sides 13 and 14 normallydiverge, so that they naturally tend to assume positions farther apartthan the distance between the sides of the channel. With the twochannels in the position indicated in Fig. 2, the inner channel memberis picked up vwith a pair of tweezers, dipped in acid and insertedwithin the joint, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The free edges willresiliently engage the inner surfaces of the sides of the channels, soas to hold said sides in alinement with each other, but at the innerportion of the inner member, that is, the portion adjacent the web 15,the sides of the inner member will be out of engagement with the sidesof the channels., This will leave capillary spaces 16 and 17 partiallyfilled with the acid adhering to the inner A- drop of molten soft solderis then deposited within the inner member. 'Ihe solder passes out at theends of the inner member into the channels and immediately flowsupwardly in the capillary s aces to the channels.

completely ll said spaces and to e ectively secure the entire outersurface of both sides of the inner member to the adjacent sides of Thesolder will also travel into the narrow crevice between the abut- .jtingends of the sides of the channels, and

fill this space flushfwith the outer surface of the channels. The solderis, of course,

either heated to 4such an extent that it will l flow properlybeforelhardening, or the channels are heated to a limited extent priorto or at the time the solder is inserted. A joint formed in this mannerof soft solder is far stronger than an ordinary joint-formed withhardsolder;the parts are not'warped, distorted or discolored during thesoldering,

and a time. v

The inner member is of verythin metal and does not obstruct the innerportion of the frame to any appreciable extent, whereas in solderingtheparts withhard solder and a soldering iron, drops of solder oftenworkman can solder a joint in far less harden within the container so asto nearly close the same. The inner channel member may be of any formorsize desired. In Figs. 1 and 3, I have shown the inner channel member12 substantially triangular in form, but it is evident that I might usean inner channel member 12a substantially rectangular in form as shownin Fig. 7. It is only essential that the inner channel member be of suchshape and size that it overlap the abutting edges of the channels go-lber, the solder being free to i'low out of the inner member and be drawnupwardly by capillary attraction` into said capillary spaces.

' 2. A frame including two channels hav- -ing abutting ends, an innerchannel member overlapping said abutting ends and having its edgesholding the sides of said channels in alinement, and solder intermediatethe sides of the inner member and the sides of the channels. I

"3. A frame including two channels having abutting ends, an innerchannel member overlapping said abutting ends and having its edgesholding the sides of the channels in alinement and having its webnarrower than the space between the sides of the channels to formcapillary spaces between the sides of the inner channel member and thesides of-said channels, and solderl filling said capillary spaces. v

In testimony vwhereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. LOUIS B. PRAHAR. Witnesses:

CLAIR W.' FAIRBANK, PHiLrr D. RoLLHAUs.

